"We have many pledges (promises), and focus on certain issues, and we can read that this manifesto contains so many promises that we will fulfill once we get to Putrajaya (federal administrative capital of Malaysia)."

"Some say that we are the government in waiting? But if we are just waiting, nothing would happen, victory won't just fall into our lap. We have a very important task, to make sure our party (Pakatan Harapan) can bring down Najib Razak's cleptocratic government."

8. Various of Mahathir with his supporters

Storyline

Malaysia's opposition coalition has pledged to axe an unpopular good and services tax and reopen investigations into a multibillion-dollar financial scandal linked to Prime Minister Najib Razak if it wins the next elections.

The Hope Alliance, led by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, also promised to clip the powers of the prime minister, revive fuel subsidies and a slew of economic reforms as part of its manifesto for polls due by August but widely expected in the second quarter.

In announcing the coalition's manifesto late on Thursday, Mahathir said the opposition has been labelled "government-in-waiting" as he rallied supporters to unite to oust the coalition that has ruled since independence.

"This book contains so many promises that we will fulfill once we get to Putrajaya," said Mahathir, who led Malaysia for 22 years before he stepped down in 2003.

At 92, Mahathir will be the world's oldest prime minister if the opposition wins but he promised to hand over the reins once his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim is released from prison in June and able to take over.

Analysts say the opposition faces an uphill battle due to party infighting, unfavourable electoral boundary changes and strong support for the government from rural ethnic Malays.

Support for Najib's ruling National Front coalition has dwindled in the last two elections as he struggled with an epic corruption scandal that involved hundreds of millions of dollars believed linked to the 1MDB state fund passing through his bank accounts.

In 2013, the coalition lost the national popular vote for the first time to the opposition.